Eyes wide open

Pasadena needs Moon as mayor.

Candidate signs fill the sidewalk in front of the Pasadena City Hall on the last day of early voting, Tuesday, May 5, 2017, in Pasadena. (Mark Mulligan / Houston Chronicle)

Candidate signs fill the sidewalk in front of the Pasadena City...

The headlines don't look good for Pasadena's political status quo.

The city's economic development agency has been hounded by criticism of unspent dollars, unfulfilled promises and secret - perhaps illegal - meetings. There are even allegations of lucrative contracts handed out to politically connected companies. At City Hall, longtime Mayor Johnny Isbell was found by a federal judge to have intentionally discriminated against Hispanic voters in a slapdash redistricting scheme. Now the city faces election oversight from the Department of Justice until 2023.

Moon, 58, would bring the outsider perspective that Pasadena needs. He has spent the past decade as a trustee for the top-rated San Jacinto College. In addition to his public service, Moon also has the business credentials to make for a fine mayor of a growing city - he is a certified CPA and former chief financial officer at Moody Bank. Moon currently works as a commercial real estate agent.

While scandal has dominated the headlines, Moon kept his focus on the core issues of education, economic growth and quality of life when he met with the editorial board. He specifically recommended updating the city's infrastructure plans into a modern capital improvement system that's the hallmark of transparent governance.

"It does not appear that we have had an effective plan over the last five years and you need to renew that plan on an annual basis," Moon said.

His challenger, Councilman Jeff Wagner, has deep roots in the community and his own record of public service. However, the longtime police officer has also been a dedicated political ally for Isbell. That kind of continuity can be good in city government, but right now Pasadena needs change at the top. Wagner just represents more of the same.

We were also distressed by Wagner's denial of the divide that exists between largely Hispanic north Pasadena and the Anglo neighborhoods of the south.

"I don't like north vs. south, but you brought it up," Wagner said after he was asked about the issue at an editorial board meeting.

Problems ranging from the economic development board to the voter discrimination lawsuit all stem from this continuing political conflict. Pasadena needs a mayor who can enter this office with eyes wide open if the city hopes to avoid further scandal.

Moon is Pasadena's best choice to make these issues a thing of the past.

Early voting begins today to Saturday, June 3, and Monday, June 5 to Tuesday, June 6. Election Day is Saturday, May 10.